Hilary Coller
Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology
AD
4.9
Overall Rating
Based on 17 Users
Easiness 3.7 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 4.6 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 3.7 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 4.8 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

  • Uses Slides
  • Engaging Lectures
  • Gives Extra Credit
  • Would Take Again
  • Is Podcasted
GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS
81.0%
67.5%
54.0%
40.5%
27.0%
13.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

44.9%
37.4%
30.0%
22.5%
15.0%
7.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

52.2%
43.5%
34.8%
26.1%
17.4%
8.7%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

54.4%
45.3%
36.2%
27.2%
18.1%
9.1%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

35.5%
29.6%
23.7%
17.8%
11.8%
5.9%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

32.8%
27.3%
21.9%
16.4%
10.9%
5.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

21.2%
17.7%
14.2%
10.6%
7.1%
3.5%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

19.7%
16.4%
13.1%
9.9%
6.6%
3.3%
0.0%
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F

Grade distributions are collected using data from the UCLA Registrar’s Office.

ENROLLMENT DISTRIBUTIONS
Clear marks

Sorry, no enrollment data is available.

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Reviews (15)

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Quarter: Spring 2019
Grade: A+
July 19, 2019

ok. where to begin. her class was always kind of confusing. Her first exam was very easy ( the average was around a 90%). Her second exam was increasingly more difficult and she didn't allot enough time for students to complete the test. For this exam she ended up extending class period and giving students an extra credit opportunity( some students didn't even finish the test). People above are right about her providing many sources for extra credit tho! The most annoying thing about her class is the timed-quiz by far. She gives you a thicccc paper ( we had a 32pg cell manuscript) to 'read' and you have to answer questions regarding the paper during class. This ( for me) was near to impossible. I though i did really bad but apparently many students did so she hella curved. In fact, the second midterm was probably curved too because I got over 100% and for a fact did not get everything right. I ended up with an A+ lol.

How I got an A+:

- skipped lecture, watched bruincast( take notes on slides and UNDERSTAND the methodology behind the experiments)
- discussions are not necessary to attend ( I only went to two of them and they weren't helpful-- plus they post the slides)
- EMPHASIS ON SLIDES AND EXPERIMENTS- that's all you need to know.
- do the extra credit assignments
- make sure you dont lose points on the hw assignments

Helpful?

2 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2020
Grade: A
COVID-19 This review was submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your experience may vary.
June 28, 2020

Coller is an amazing professor who cares about her students. Would recommend 100%.

Helpful?

1 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2019
Grade: A
June 25, 2019

If you have to take 165A, definitely take it with her. There are so many extra credit opportunities and the tests are incredibly fair. She is very clear on what will be tested and you learn so much involving cell biology. I love her!

Helpful?

1 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2025
Grade: A+
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
April 1, 2025

LOCKDOWN BROWSER + WEBCAM RECORDING REQUIRED FOR EXAMS NOW. No notes. She records lectures. Discussion sections are optional. A lot of extra credit opportunities.

This class is so cool because it has so many applications to real-life and the lab setting. You learn about real techniques that are used in a research lab. The professor is so supportive and knowledgeable about the material. She is able to answer any question you may have and is really invested in our well-being.

3 quizzes - 25% (online)
They ranged from 12-20 questions and were a mix of multiple choice and FRQs.

2 Midterms (20% and 25%).
They ranged from 15-20 questions and were also multiple choice and FRQs.

Final (30%)
Our final had 11 questions with half being multiple choice and half FRQs.

This class is kind of a lot so I don’t recommend taking it if you have a heavy course load. It is kind of a flipped classroom model where the professor posts background videos to watch before coming to lecture and expands on the concepts in lecture as well. You will also be expected to read 5 research papers throughout the quarter and the figures will be expanded on in the class. They are tested in all of the exams so make sure you know the figures really well. All of the exams are closed notes since webcam is required. She provides past exams and quizzes so you can get a feel for how she likes to ask questions. She provides a lot of study and prep material for everything so you feel supported.

I will say that sometimes this class felt like a lot for me. There were many weeks where we had a quiz one week and then a midterm immediately the next week and then another quiz the following week. However, there are a lot of extra credit opportunities to boost your grade. A lot of material is covered in lecture and the background videos so to be tested every week is a lot especially with other classes. Despite this, I truly learned a lot and recommend the class.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Winter 2022
Grade: A+
COVID-19 This review was submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your experience may vary.
Oct. 11, 2023

Okay if you have to take this class for the MCDB major or you're looking for an upper div elective, you should take this class but only if Coller is teaching it. She's a really good professor and the material is pretty new so it takes a while to adjust to it. This class is based around like 5 research papers, and she goes over everything with you during class. Exams were online and open-note and unlimited time (it was due 11:59 sunday but you could open it on Thursday night). I went to her office hours a couple times and she is very patient and understanding and clear. She gives a lot of partial credit too. Overall, Coller is a great professor. She is extremely intelligent and organized and nice. Take this class with her if you can.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2023
Grade: A+
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
June 25, 2023

Amazing class! Your grade is dependent on 3 quizzes (25%), 2 midterms (20+25%), and 1 final exam (30%), with the lowest quiz score being dropped. You can also get up to 5 points extra credit on all the midterms and final. All the exams are take-home and you get Thursday evening through Monday early morning to complete them (final was like Sunday through Wednesday of finals week). Discussions are not mandatory, but they go over exam answers in them. BruinLearn site has all slides, past exams to use for reference. Textbook is really not necessary. Lectures are engaging and informative, and are posted on Bruincast, attendance is not mandatory. There really isn't any homework except watching a 30ish min background video weekly and reading 6 research papers throughout the quarter. Overall, getting an A in this class is very doable and all the experimental techniques that are gone over are very relevant in any molecular/cellular biology setting, would highly recommend taking this w/ Coller (she seems to teach every spring)

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Quarter: Spring 2023
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
June 22, 2023

This class should be required by every life science program. The most informative class I have taken at UCLA.

Grade is dependent on 3 quizzes, 2 midterms, and 1 final that were all take-home and open for multiple days. Questions involved a lot of experimental design using the methods taught in class. Extra credit was offered for the midterms and final.

Workload consisted of primary papers and few ~30min background videos every week in addition to class, a very manageable workload.

I learned more from this class than any other because it was low-stress and requires creativity/problem solving.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2023
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
May 21, 2023

Loved this class! After having a challenging winter quarter, Dr. Coller and the TA's rekindled my love for research. Her lectures are engaging and the material covered is super manageable. If you go to lecture, watch any pre-lecture videos, and read the assigned papers, you will do just fine. I went to some of the office hours to ask questions about concepts and figures from the papers... it helps A LOT. 12/10 would take another class taught by her!

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2022
Grade: A
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
June 21, 2022

VERY EASY CLASS AND LECTURES ARE BRUINCASTED. Your grade is based entirely on three quizzes, two midterms, and a final, but they are all take-home and she gave us over 48 hours to complete them. The only homework is watching one 30-minute background video and reading one research paper a week so the courseload is very light. Professor Coller is also a very clear and engaging professor and she offers so much extra credit that I can't see how anyone didn't get an A. However, you'll definitely learn something in the process too and I thought she covered the material very well!

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2021
Grade: N/A
COVID-19 This review was submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your experience may vary.
June 13, 2021

This has been one of my favorite classes at UCLA thus far. I found the class content to be extremely interesting. The exams can be challenging because you really have to engage with the course readings and lectures to do well. Dr. Coller is an amazing professor who truly cares about student learning. She is passionate about what she does. If you have the chance to take a course with her, DO IT! You will not regret it (:

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2019
Grade: A+
July 19, 2019

ok. where to begin. her class was always kind of confusing. Her first exam was very easy ( the average was around a 90%). Her second exam was increasingly more difficult and she didn't allot enough time for students to complete the test. For this exam she ended up extending class period and giving students an extra credit opportunity( some students didn't even finish the test). People above are right about her providing many sources for extra credit tho! The most annoying thing about her class is the timed-quiz by far. She gives you a thicccc paper ( we had a 32pg cell manuscript) to 'read' and you have to answer questions regarding the paper during class. This ( for me) was near to impossible. I though i did really bad but apparently many students did so she hella curved. In fact, the second midterm was probably curved too because I got over 100% and for a fact did not get everything right. I ended up with an A+ lol.

How I got an A+:

- skipped lecture, watched bruincast( take notes on slides and UNDERSTAND the methodology behind the experiments)
- discussions are not necessary to attend ( I only went to two of them and they weren't helpful-- plus they post the slides)
- EMPHASIS ON SLIDES AND EXPERIMENTS- that's all you need to know.
- do the extra credit assignments
- make sure you dont lose points on the hw assignments

Helpful?

2 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
COVID-19 This review was submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your experience may vary.
Quarter: Spring 2020
Grade: A
June 28, 2020

Coller is an amazing professor who cares about her students. Would recommend 100%.

Helpful?

1 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Quarter: Spring 2019
Grade: A
June 25, 2019

If you have to take 165A, definitely take it with her. There are so many extra credit opportunities and the tests are incredibly fair. She is very clear on what will be tested and you learn so much involving cell biology. I love her!

Helpful?

1 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Winter 2025
Grade: A+
April 1, 2025

LOCKDOWN BROWSER + WEBCAM RECORDING REQUIRED FOR EXAMS NOW. No notes. She records lectures. Discussion sections are optional. A lot of extra credit opportunities.

This class is so cool because it has so many applications to real-life and the lab setting. You learn about real techniques that are used in a research lab. The professor is so supportive and knowledgeable about the material. She is able to answer any question you may have and is really invested in our well-being.

3 quizzes - 25% (online)
They ranged from 12-20 questions and were a mix of multiple choice and FRQs.

2 Midterms (20% and 25%).
They ranged from 15-20 questions and were also multiple choice and FRQs.

Final (30%)
Our final had 11 questions with half being multiple choice and half FRQs.

This class is kind of a lot so I don’t recommend taking it if you have a heavy course load. It is kind of a flipped classroom model where the professor posts background videos to watch before coming to lecture and expands on the concepts in lecture as well. You will also be expected to read 5 research papers throughout the quarter and the figures will be expanded on in the class. They are tested in all of the exams so make sure you know the figures really well. All of the exams are closed notes since webcam is required. She provides past exams and quizzes so you can get a feel for how she likes to ask questions. She provides a lot of study and prep material for everything so you feel supported.

I will say that sometimes this class felt like a lot for me. There were many weeks where we had a quiz one week and then a midterm immediately the next week and then another quiz the following week. However, there are a lot of extra credit opportunities to boost your grade. A lot of material is covered in lecture and the background videos so to be tested every week is a lot especially with other classes. Despite this, I truly learned a lot and recommend the class.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
COVID-19 This review was submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your experience may vary.
Quarter: Winter 2022
Grade: A+
Oct. 11, 2023

Okay if you have to take this class for the MCDB major or you're looking for an upper div elective, you should take this class but only if Coller is teaching it. She's a really good professor and the material is pretty new so it takes a while to adjust to it. This class is based around like 5 research papers, and she goes over everything with you during class. Exams were online and open-note and unlimited time (it was due 11:59 sunday but you could open it on Thursday night). I went to her office hours a couple times and she is very patient and understanding and clear. She gives a lot of partial credit too. Overall, Coller is a great professor. She is extremely intelligent and organized and nice. Take this class with her if you can.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Spring 2023
Grade: A+
June 25, 2023

Amazing class! Your grade is dependent on 3 quizzes (25%), 2 midterms (20+25%), and 1 final exam (30%), with the lowest quiz score being dropped. You can also get up to 5 points extra credit on all the midterms and final. All the exams are take-home and you get Thursday evening through Monday early morning to complete them (final was like Sunday through Wednesday of finals week). Discussions are not mandatory, but they go over exam answers in them. BruinLearn site has all slides, past exams to use for reference. Textbook is really not necessary. Lectures are engaging and informative, and are posted on Bruincast, attendance is not mandatory. There really isn't any homework except watching a 30ish min background video weekly and reading 6 research papers throughout the quarter. Overall, getting an A in this class is very doable and all the experimental techniques that are gone over are very relevant in any molecular/cellular biology setting, would highly recommend taking this w/ Coller (she seems to teach every spring)

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Spring 2023
Grade: A
June 22, 2023

This class should be required by every life science program. The most informative class I have taken at UCLA.

Grade is dependent on 3 quizzes, 2 midterms, and 1 final that were all take-home and open for multiple days. Questions involved a lot of experimental design using the methods taught in class. Extra credit was offered for the midterms and final.

Workload consisted of primary papers and few ~30min background videos every week in addition to class, a very manageable workload.

I learned more from this class than any other because it was low-stress and requires creativity/problem solving.

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Spring 2023
Grade: A
May 21, 2023

Loved this class! After having a challenging winter quarter, Dr. Coller and the TA's rekindled my love for research. Her lectures are engaging and the material covered is super manageable. If you go to lecture, watch any pre-lecture videos, and read the assigned papers, you will do just fine. I went to some of the office hours to ask questions about concepts and figures from the papers... it helps A LOT. 12/10 would take another class taught by her!

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
Verified Reviewer This user is a verified UCLA student/alum.
Quarter: Spring 2022
Grade: A
June 21, 2022

VERY EASY CLASS AND LECTURES ARE BRUINCASTED. Your grade is based entirely on three quizzes, two midterms, and a final, but they are all take-home and she gave us over 48 hours to complete them. The only homework is watching one 30-minute background video and reading one research paper a week so the courseload is very light. Professor Coller is also a very clear and engaging professor and she offers so much extra credit that I can't see how anyone didn't get an A. However, you'll definitely learn something in the process too and I thought she covered the material very well!

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
COVID-19 This review was submitted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your experience may vary.
Quarter: Spring 2021
Grade: N/A
June 13, 2021

This has been one of my favorite classes at UCLA thus far. I found the class content to be extremely interesting. The exams can be challenging because you really have to engage with the course readings and lectures to do well. Dr. Coller is an amazing professor who truly cares about student learning. She is passionate about what she does. If you have the chance to take a course with her, DO IT! You will not regret it (:

Helpful?

0 0 Please log in to provide feedback.
1 of 2
4.9
Overall Rating
Based on 17 Users
Easiness 3.7 / 5 How easy the class is, 1 being extremely difficult and 5 being easy peasy.
Clarity 4.6 / 5 How clear the class is, 1 being extremely unclear and 5 being very clear.
Workload 3.7 / 5 How much workload the class is, 1 being extremely heavy and 5 being extremely light.
Helpfulness 4.8 / 5 How helpful the class is, 1 being not helpful at all and 5 being extremely helpful.

TOP TAGS

  • Uses Slides
    (9)
  • Engaging Lectures
    (10)
  • Gives Extra Credit
    (9)
  • Would Take Again
    (9)
  • Is Podcasted
    (8)
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